The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians released a map of the blue-green algal toxic blooms on Clearlake this morning. In a social media post, the map of cyanotoxin data shows danger to the south and east parts of the lake. The town of Clearlake, the area of Lower Lake, Clearlake Oaks all show high levels of the toxic algae. There seems to be low if any danger to the north and west parts of Clearlake. People should avoid going into the water where the highest concentrations of the cyanotoxins are and people should also limit pets and livestock from areas where the algal blooms are appearing at high levels.
Clearlake Police announced illegal grows were searched this month and seized over 3,600 plants and about 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana. Lake County News reports they also found 12 illegal firearms and over 6,000 rounds of ammo from four locations. Four people were arrested and taken to jail on charges related to unlicensed marijuana operations and firearms charges. Most grows were outside, with a few indoor operations.
There was a motorcycle versus vehicle crash in Ukiah that brought an air ambulance in to take the rider with an open compound fracture to Adventist Ukiah then flown out to another hospital. It happened yesterday just after 6pm when emergency responders were called to South State and Church Streets on reports a vehicle struck the biker. MendoFever reported the vehicle may have fled the scene. Details are still unfolding as authorities investigate.
The Mendocino Historical Review Board is considering allowing outside areas to continue for county businesses that opened their spaces up during COVID. As of now, the temporary permits and allowances for outdoor retail spaces will end on August 8th. Businesses must apply for the permit to extend outdoor uses while the board and the county consider how to formalize the expanded spaces. The Advocate News reports the issue is not cut and dry, and for now, permit extensions are the only answer to keep things like tents erected. There is opposition to the theory of keeping the spaces, but the Historical Review Board only has so much authority. They’ve decided to seek legal counsel with input from the county.
The Mendocino County Probation Department and GEO Reentry Services are hosting an open house today from 12:30 to 2:30pm for the community to learn about programs for people on probation and more to help participants get back to life, work, sobriety or school. People can learn from substance abuse treatment resources, behavioral treatment, parenting, employment skills, counseling and more. The center offers long-term benefits to the community and is effective at reducing correctional costs while improving public safety and lowering recidivisms, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal.
A report on crime in the state has issued earlier this month. The 2022 report shows violent crimes and property crimes have increased by just over 6 percent in a year. CalMatters reports robberies rocketed up over 10 percent. Attorney General Bonta issued a statement saying gun violence remains a major threat to public safety, and that property and violent crimes continue to have devastating consequences. Residents worry crime is trending up, and is noted in a Public Policy Institute of California. The institute says 2 in 3 California residents call street crime a problem, a large increase from 2020.
Caltrans is celebrating a half century mark. California created the Department of Transportation fifty years ago this month. Lake County News reports what is known as CalTrans pulled together one of the nation’s largest transportation systems. Caltrans has released an updated history on the official website.
There will be a workshop for the community on the future public transit routes and more on July 27th at 4:30 at the Ukiah Senior Center. After a meeting last month, the Mendocino Council of Governments had a Rural Mobility Solutions Virtual Public Meeting and heard from some inland residents. The upcoming workshop will focus on a Short Range Transit Plan for the next five years. The project was started with a grant from Cal Trans. MendoFever reports communities along Highway 101 don’t have enough public transportation. They focused on the areas of Covelo, Laytonville, Brooktrails, Potter Valley and Hopland. The project aims to use innovative ideas to work for the trips from Ukiah to the Coast.
Lake County artists are being hailed by the Cobb Sculpture Jam organizers to be a part of the event as well as a summer workshop. Lake County News reports the Cobb Sculpture Jam aims to bring the community together and create an outdoor museum without walls. The Sculpture Jam will happen mid October, but they are hoping artists will come together for a workshop planned soon. What they’re looking for is the use of natural or recycled and reclaimed materials. Organizers are comparing what they’d like the event to be to sculpture jams in the Bay Area, Cloverdale and Middletown. Highway 175 will be the art corridor where sculptures will be lined up and lit with solar lights.
California’s Select Committee on Wildfire Prevention held a first in a series of public listening sessions last week at Sonoma State University. The Press Democrat reports climate change was a hot topic. Cal Fire and other state and local agencies were on hand for the meeting to get a handle on what communities are doing to mitigate fire risk. Overgrown forests, population growth and human sparked fires have contributed to the growing threat. Home hardening can help prevent damage. The group also discussed people who live along parks or public spaces and streamlining a permit process to allow them to cut down brush. The group also discussed controlled burns.
A chain of car crashes shut down Highway 101 near Healdsburg last night. Both northbound lanes were blocked for over an hour at Dry Creek Road. The Press Democrat reports there were four collisions on the highway. One vehicle was destroyed in a crash with one victim airlifted out. The chain of events started in the southbound lanes of Highway 101 around 6pm according to CHP. Gawkers from the northbound lane led to a rear end collision that prompted a third and fourth collision. Three people were injured. A Chevy Tahoe, Nissan Rogue and a pick-up were involved in the rear-end strikes. Traffic was diverted onto Dry Creek Road, until Highway 101 northbound lanes reopened around 7:30pm.
Weather researchers at San Jose State University are studying wildfire behavior in steep terrain. KCRA reports Cal Fire has focused on being actively aggressive in initial attacks on blazes and has been fairly successful. The weather researchers have been looking at smoke with a Doppler Radar for a decade. It allows them to look into plumes to see hour fires create their own weather pattern. Those patterns, are larger than one would think, with researchers seeing winds caused by fires up to a mile away from the blaze. All their research will help them model fire behavior to help firefighters and communities. Last year, a team held a burn experiment in a steep canyon and looked at the fire with an array of sensors. As this wildfire season has started relatively quieter than in past years, scientists say when north winds pick up toward the fall, new adaptive mitigation techniques will be put to the test.
The Mendocino County District Attorney issued a release on social media yesterday. A jury deliberated yesterday and announced a deadlock on the case against Mylz Dykes of Willits who was charged with evading and resisting an officer. The three day trial ended with Judge Pekin declaring a mistrial. A new trial date was set so the district attorney can gather a new panel of jurors.
The Little Lake Fire Protection District received USDA grant funds for two new fire engines. The district applied for the grant a couple of years ago and was just awarded the engine grant. In other grant applications, the Little Lake Fire Protection District also was awarded a smaller engine grant. The customizable 4-wheel drive pickup has better maneuverability and can get to places that larger engines cannot. The Type 3 engine was delivered recently and is being outfitted for the district. The Willits Weekly reports at the districts board of directors meeting earlier this month also included updates on repair to the station gate, adding solar power and an EV charging station. The division chief also talked about collaboration between the City of Willits and Little Lake Fire with new software.
Camp Mendocino is getting some rehab work done with the help of AmeriCorps. A group of eight young adults have been working at clearing spots of high fire risk and will continue working on the camp through the beginning of August. The Mendocino Beacon reports the six week project is part of the AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps Summer of Service program. What is usually a nearly year long term provides an opportunity for college students to work with the service group after a few weeks o f training in Denver.
